If It’s Summer, It’s Time for TV News Substitutes

When summertime rolls around, TV news viewers can be assured of at least one thing: their favorite hosts will be taking some time off.

When the Bill O’Reilly’s and Keith Olbermann’s of the world are on vacation, the networks bring out what politico calls “The B-Team”: the substitute anchors who serve as stewards until the more-famous faces return, probably tanned.

Politico profiles some of those substitutes, including “Glenn Beck” fill-in Andrew Napolitano, “Countdown” regular Lawrence O’Donnell and Juan Williams and Laura Ingraham, who regularly fill in on “The O’Reilly Factor.”

While at the “Factor’s” helm, Williams plays a forceful devil’s advocate with its conservative guests, but the man sticks to the script. He’ll recite the show’s opening editorial whether he agrees with it or not. In contrast, when Ingraham is in the chair, it’s her show.

Politico also put together a video highlight reel of the “B-Team” in action, check it out after the jump.